<!--
  Fables de Phèdre
  LE TESTAMENT EXPLIQUÉ PAR ÉSOPE , Fable 5

  Generated 2013-08-24T15:22:16+00:00

  @copyright 2013 Michel Corne
  @license   http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html GNU GPL v3
-->
<table class="fp-content">
<tr class="fp-first">
<td class="fp-left"><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/le-cheval-et-le-sanglier.html">Fable précédente</a></div>
<div class="fp-title"><span class="fp-number">Livre 4, Fable 5</span><span class="fp-text">LE TESTAMENT EXPLIQUÉ PAR ÉSOPE</span></div>
</td>
<td class="fp-right"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cfCNNzUdFlwn_8ABYcVxEw?feat=directlink"><img class="fp-image" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gd7Iixzc-c8/ToX_5ouVemI/AAAAAAAADy4/QaiptodtFjw/s144/66-le-testament-explique-par-esope.jpg" /></a><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/le-combat-des-rats-et-des-belettes.html">Fable suivante</a></div>
<div class="fp-title"><span class="fp-number">Liber IV, Fabula V</span><span class="fp-text notranslate"><span class="fp-correction" title="POETA  (orig.)"><span class="fp-difference">AESOPUS INTERPRES TESTAMENTI</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="AESOPUS INTERPRES TESTAMENTI  (texte subst.)"><span class="fp-difference">POETA</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-middle">
<td class="fp-left"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">1&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Souvent un seul a plus de bon sens que tous&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">2&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">cette courte histoire le prouvera à la postérité.</span></span></span></td>
<td class="fp-right"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">1&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Plus esse in uno saepe quam in turba boni,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">2&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">narratione posteris tradam brevi.</span></span></span></td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-middle">
<td class="fp-left"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">3&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Un homme, en mourant, laissa trois filles ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">4&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">l'une était belle, et ses yeux attiraient les hommes ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">5&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">la seconde, entendue au ménage, aux ouvrages de laine et aux travaux de la campagne ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">6&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">la troisième, très laide et aimant à boire.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">7&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Leur mère avait reçu l'héritage du vieillard,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">8&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">à la charge de partager également toute sa fortune</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">9&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">entre ses trois filles, de manière cependant,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">10&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">qu'elles ne pourraient avoir ces biens ni en propriété ni en usufruit,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">11&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et que, de plus, elles devraient compter cent sesterces à leur mère,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">12&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">dès qu'elles cesseraient d'avoir ce qu'elles auraient reçu.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">13&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Athènes s'émeut de ce testament ; la mère s'empresse</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">14&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">de consulter les juristes ; mais nul ne comprend</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">15&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">comment ces jeunes filles ne pourraient avoir ni la jouissance,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">16&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">ni la propriété des biens qu'elles auraient reçus, et ensuite comment, s'il ne leur reste plus rien,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">17&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">elles payeront à leur mère la somme exigée.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">18&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Bien du temps s'écoule sans que le testament soit mieux compris.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">19&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">La mère alors laisse les jurisconsultes,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">20&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et ne consulte que la bonne foi ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">21&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">elle met à part, pour la coquette, tout l'attirail féminin, les robes,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">22&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">les services de bain en argent, les eunuques et les jeunes esclaves ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">23&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">pour la seconde, qui aime les champs, la maison de campagne, les fermes,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">24&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">les valets, les troupeaux, les bœufs, les chevaux et les instruments aratoires,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">25&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et pour la troisième, un cellier rempli de vieux vins,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">26&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">une maison élégante et des jardins ravissants.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">27&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Les lots ainsi réglés, elle allait les partager&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">28&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">leurs goûts étaient connus, et tout le monde approuvait.</span></span></span></td>
<td class="fp-right"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">3&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Quidam decedens tres reliquit filias,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">4&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">unam formosam et oculis venantem viros,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">5&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">at alteram lanificam et frugi rusticam,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">6&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">devotam vino tertiam et turpissimam.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">7&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Harum autem matrem fecit heredem senex</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">8&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">sub conditione totam ut fortunam tribus</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">9&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">aequaliter distribuat, sed tali modo&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">10&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">ni data possideant aut fruantur; <span class="fp-manuscript" title="Afficher le manuscrit (édition paléographique)"
>[<a target="fppithoeanus" href="http://www.archive.org/stream/lesfablesdephdr00robegoog#page/n113/mode/1up">p.50</a>]</span> tum simul</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">11&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">habere res desierint quas acceperint,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">12&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">centena matri <span class="fp-correction" title="conferunt  (orig. avec f. de gram.)"><span class="fp-difference">conferant</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="conferant  (f. de gram. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">conferunt</span></span> setertia.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">13&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Athenas rumor implet. Mater sedula</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">14&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">juris peritos consulit ; nemo expedit</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">15&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">quo pacto si non possideant quod fuerit datum,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">16&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">fructumve capiant ; deinde quae tulerint nihil</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">17&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">quanam ratione conferant pecuniam.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">18&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Postquam consumta est temporis longi mora</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">19&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">nec testamenti potuit sensus colligi,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">20&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">fidem advocavit jure neclecto parens.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">21&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Seponit <span class="fp-correction" title="moeche  (orig. avec var. orth.)"><span class="fp-difference">moechae</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="moechae  (var. orth. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">moeche</span></span> vestem, mundum muliebrem,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">22&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">lavationem argenteam, eunuchos, glabros ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">23&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">lanificae agellos, pecora, villam, operarios,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">24&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">boves, jumenta et instrumentum rusticum ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">25&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">potrici plenam antiquis <span class="fp-correction" title="apotecam  (orig. avec f. d'orth.)"><span class="fp-difference">apothecam</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="apothecam  (f. d'orth. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">apotecam</span></span> cadis,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">26&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">domum politam et delicatos hortulos.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">27&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Sic destinata dare cum vellet singulis</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">28&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">et adprobaret populus, qui illas noverat,</span></span></span></td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-middle">
<td class="fp-left"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">29&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Ésope parut tout à coup dans l'assemblée&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">30&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">«&nbsp;Ah&nbsp;! dit-il, si le père défunt pouvait vous entendre,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">31&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">combien il souffrirait de voir les Athéniens</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">32&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">interpréter si mal ses dernières volontés&nbsp;!&nbsp;»</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">33&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">On l'interroge et il dissipe ainsi l'erreur&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">34&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">«&nbsp;La maison, les meubles, les jardins délicieux</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">35&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et les vins vieux, il faut les donner à celle qui n'aime que la campagne ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">36&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">les robes, les perles, les esclaves et tout le reste,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">37&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">à celle qui passe sa vie dans le luxe ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">38&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">gardez les champs, les vignes, les troupeaux et les bergers</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">39&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">pour la coquette. Aucune ne pourra conserver des biens</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">40&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">si peu conformes à ses goûts ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">41&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">la laide vendra tous ses atours pour avoir un cellier ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">42&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">la coquette échangera ses champs contre des bijoux,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">43&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et celle qui aime les troupeaux et les travaux champêtres</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">44&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">se défera au plus vite de la maison de plaisance.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">45&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Ainsi nulle ne possédera ce qui lui aura été donné,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">46&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et avec l'argent de la vente de leurs biens,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">47&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">elles feront la rente à leur mère.</span></span></span></td>
<td class="fp-right"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">29&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Aesopus media subito in turba constitit&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">30&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">«&nbsp;O si <span class="fp-manuscript" title="Afficher le manuscrit (édition paléographique)"
>[<a target="fppithoeanus" href="http://www.archive.org/stream/lesfablesdephdr00robegoog#page/n114/mode/1up">p.51</a>]</span> maneret condito sensus patri,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">31&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">quam graviter ferret quod voluntatem suam</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">32&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">interpretari non potuissent Attici&nbsp;!&nbsp;»</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">33&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Rogatus deinde solvit errorem omnium&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">34&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">«&nbsp;Domum et ornamenta cum venustis ortulis</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">35&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">et vina vetera date lanificae rusticae ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">36&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">vestem, uniones, pedisequos et cetera</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">37&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">illi adsignate vitam quae luxu trahit ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">38&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">agros, buvile et pecora cum pastoribus</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">39&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">donate moechae. Nulla poterit perpeti,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">40&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">ut moribus quid teneat alienum suis.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">41&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Deformis cultum vendet ut vinum paret ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">42&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">agros abiciet moecha ut ornatum paret ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">43&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">at illa gaudens pecore et lanae dedita,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">44&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">quacumque <span class="fp-correction" title="summae  (orig. avec f. de gram.)"><span class="fp-difference">summa</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="summa  (f. de gram. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">summae</span></span> tradet <span class="fp-correction" title="luxoriae  (orig. avec f. d'orth.)"><span class="fp-difference">luxuriae</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="luxuriae  (f. d'orth. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">luxoriae</span></span> domum.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">45&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Sic nulla possidebit quod fuerit datum,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">46&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">edictam matri conferent pecuniam</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">47&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate"><span class="fp-correction" title="et  (orig. avec err. de synt.)"><span class="fp-difference">ex</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="ex  (err. de synt. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">et</span></span> pretio rerum quas vendiderint singulae.&nbsp;»</span></span></span></td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-middle">
<td class="fp-left"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">48&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Ainsi la sagacité d'un seul homme découvrit</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">49&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">ce qui avait échappé à la légèreté de la foule.</span></span></span></td>
<td class="fp-right"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">48&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Ita quod multorum fugit inprudentiam</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">49&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">unius hominis repperit sollertia.</span></span></span></td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-last">
<td class="fp-left"><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/le-cheval-et-le-sanglier.html">Fable précédente</a></div></td>
<td class="fp-right"><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/le-combat-des-rats-et-des-belettes.html">Fable suivante</a></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="fp-footer">
<div class="fp-translator">Traduit par M. E. Panckoucke, 1864</div>
<div class="fp-la-fontaine">Lire la fable de La Fontaine&nbsp;: <a href="http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Testament_expliqu%C3%A9_par_%C3%89sope">Testament expliqué par Ésope</a></div>
</div>